Fruit-picker.



H. A. SCHUMANN.

FRUIT PIGKEE.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.30, 1911.

Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFIQE.

HERMAN A. SCHUMANN, OF BOONVILLE, 1VIISSOURI.

FRUIT-PICKER.

Application filed October 30, 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMAN A. Sci-IU- uaxn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Boonville, in the county ofCooper, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fruit-Pickers; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear. and eXact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to fruit pickers.

The object of the invention resides in the provision of a fruit pickerwhich will dispense with the necessity of climbing the tree in order togather the fruit and which will also protect the fruit in the operationof gathering from bruising or injury.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thedetails of construction and in the arrangement and combination of partsto be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out inthe appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts in the sev eral views, and in which Figure 1, is aside elevation of the invention partly broken away showing the strippingjaws in expanded or normal position, Fig. 2, a view similar to Fig. 1showing the stripping jaws operated toward each other, and Fig. 3, adetail perspective view showing the manner of constructing the receivingend and stripping jaws of the device.

Referring to the drawings, the device is shown as comprising a sectionalhandle 10 to one end of which are secured the cooperating stripping jawsof the device. One of these jaws is formed from a single strand of wirehaving its intermediate portion bent to form a square frame A whichcomprises side members 11 and 12 and an outer end mem ber 13, the wirefrom which the frame A is formed being looped at the junction of theside members 11 and 12 wit-h the outer end member 13 as at 14 and 15.The free ends of the wire from which the frame A is formed are bentinwardly toward the handle in spaced relation to each other and aresuitably anchored to said handle. The frame A thus formed and secured tothe handle 10 constitutes one of the stripping jaws of the device. Theother stripping jaw of the de- Specification of Letters Patent.

latented Mar. 18,1913.

Serial No. 657,654.

vice is also formed from a single strand of wire bent to form sidemembers 16 and 17 disposed in spaced relation to the side members 11 and12 respectively and an end mem ber 18 disposed in spaced relation to theend member 13. The wire fro-m which the side members 16 and 17 and endmember 18 are formed is looped at the junction of the end member 18 withthe side members 16 and 17 as at 19 and 20. The terminals of the wirefrom which the side members 16 and 17 are formed are looped at the innerend of said side members as at 21 and 22 and then bent toward the frameA and fixed to the inner ends of the side members 11 and 12respectively. From this construction it will be apparent that the sidemembers 16 and 17 and the end members 18 constitute a stripping jaw forcooperation with the stripping jaw formed by the side members 11 and 12and the end member 13.

Mounted upon the handle 10 is an operating angle lever 23 which issecured to one end of a flexible connection 2 1 traveling in guides 25mounted upon the handle 10. The outer end of the connection 24terminates in independent sections 26 and 27 which are directedrespectively through the eyes 1 1 and 15. ,The free end of the section26 is secured to the loop 19 while the free end of the section 27 issecured to the loop 20. By this construction it will be apparent thatwhen the lever 23 is operated so as to draw the connection 24: towardthe inner end of the handle the end members 13 and 18 will be movedtoward each other against the resiliency of the wire from which they areformed and this movement of said end members is resorted to in order toeffect the stripping of the fruit from the tree, it being of courseunderstood that the device is positioned so as to dispose the fruitbetween the end members 13 and 18 before the latter are operated towardeach other. After the stripping of the fruit is thus effected the lever23 is released and said end members 13 and 18 will move away from eachother under the influence of the resiliency of the wire from which theyare formed.

Secured against the handle 10 and extending longitudinally thereof is afabric bag or receptacle 28 the outer end of which is enlarged andsecured in a suitable manner to the side members 16 and 17 and to theportions connecting said side members 16 and 17 to the side members 11and 12. By this construetion it will be apparent that fruit stripped bythe end members 13 and 18 will tall into the receptacle 2S and besubstair tially innnune from injury. The inner or lower end of thereceptacl 98 is provided with a detachable closurethrough theinstruinentality of which. the fruit contained within the receptacle mayhe reinored there- 'tlOlll.

ll hat clain'ied is:

It fruit picker comprising a handle. co operating stripping jawsmountedv on one end oil said handle, one of said strainingjaws beingformed from a single strand of resilient wire and including an outerineinher side members and an inner member, the outer member beingprovided. with loops at its junction with the side members and the innernieniber comprising separate sections hating inwardly directed terminalsengaged with the handle. the other stripping jaw being also fOl'lllGClof a single strand of resilient wire and comprising a second itraineincluding an outer member and pan a llel side members. the outer memberbeing provided with loops at its ends and extending par: llel with theouter member of the first nained jaw and having its side membersprovided with loops respectively at an inter mediate point and directedtoward and engaged with the first nanied jaw to form a portion that isnormally at right angles to the main portion of the second named traine.an angle lever mounted on the handle, a flexible connection secured tothe tree end of one arm of said. angle lever and terminating at itsother end. in a divided portion the .ineinbers of which extend throughthe loops at the ends of the outer ineinber ot the first nained jawrespectively and are secured to the loops at the ends of the outeruieinber ol the second nanied jaw, wl ereby the rocking oi: said leverwill. draw the outer ends of said jaws toward each other. and areceptacle extending contiguous to the handle and having its month endsecured to said first and second named. jaws.

in testimony whereof l allix in signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN A. Sill-l Ulvlft N l;

ll itnesses W. C. E. J.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner 012' Patents} Washington, D. t3.

